Definition of adulterousnext
as in extramarital
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse had an adulterous affair that nearly destroyed his marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adulterous The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026 As with the true story of the adulterous writers, there’s something at the center of The Disappear that feels cringily solipsistic. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2026 In the months since the incident unfolded at Gillette Stadium, the public — which was quick to discover that Cabot worked as an HR executive under Byron, and that both were married to other people at the time — has been quick to brand the pair as adulterous villains. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2025 The supernatural thriller sees a woman return from death as a vindictive spirit to torment her adulterous husband. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for adulterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterous
Adjective
  • Although the extramarital affair made headlines at the time of Schettino’s trial, there was no evidence presented to say that he was distracted as a result of Cemortan’s presence.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • The Blondie singer and Videodrome star was born in Florida, the result of an extramarital affair, and was placed for adoption at three months old.
    Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Adjective
  • With new podcast episodes dropping almost every week on Netflix, and a packed schedule of off-camera extracurricular commitments, finding time to prioritize his fitness goals hasn’t been easy.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
  • Scholarship recipients are selected based on factors including academic achievement, community service, financial need and noteworthy extracurricular activities such as work, performing arts and athletics.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adulterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterous. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on adulterous

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster